Caption: What's in a kiss?, Credit: Flickr user Scented Mirror.
Image by: Flickr user Scented Mirror. 
What's in a kiss? 

Distillations Episode 140: Swapping Spit

Series: Distillations - The Chemistry Podcast
From: Chemical Heritage Foundation
Length: 00:12:41

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Pucker up! On this episode we investigate the kiss. First, what's in the saliva we share with each other? Then we interview Sheril Kirshenbaum, author of The Science of Kissing, to find out why our ancestors starting locking lips in the first place. Read the full description.

Asset_upload_file60_75230_thumbnail_small Come a little closer. Valentine's Day is upon us, and to celebrate Distillations is breaking down a classic mating ritual: the kiss. On today's episode we begin with an exploration of what exactly saliva is made of—and what we risk passing to our partners when we exchange it. Then our executive producer Jennifer Dionisio chats with Sheril Kirshenbaum, author of The Science of Kissing, to learn more about what happens in the brain when two people lock lips.

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Piece Description

Come a little closer. Valentine's Day is upon us, and to celebrate Distillations is breaking down a classic mating ritual: the kiss. On today's episode we begin with an exploration of what exactly saliva is made of—and what we risk passing to our partners when we exchange it. Then our executive producer Jennifer Dionisio chats with Sheril Kirshenbaum, author of The Science of Kissing, to learn more about what happens in the brain when two people lock lips.

Broadcast History

Podcast on Feb. 3, 2012.

Timing and Cues

0:00 Opening Credits
0:32 Introduction
1:29 Saliva
4:33 Interview with Sheril Kirshenbaum
12:03 Closing Credits

Additional Credits

Special thanks to Jennifer Dionisio for researching this show.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Music from the Free Music Archive includes "Auspices And Vagaries," by BLÆRG, and "Ocean Breeze," by Sycamore Drive.

Related Website

http://www.chemheritage.org/distillations